Spruce up a room with cushions and curtains

When it comes to giving a room a makeover, it's often the little touches that can make the biggest differences. You don't need to spend a fortune redecorating a room to refresh its look - a few clever changes to the soft furnishings can work just as well. Here are some ways to spruce up a room with cushions and curtains...

Inject some colour into your home: Cushions are a cheap and easy way to add a splash of colour to any room. And if you add some curtains to match, you don't need to worry about repainting the walls or refurnishing the room: soft furnishings are generally enough to tie the look together and carry the colour off with style. Don't be afraid to be bold with your colour choices - cushions and curtains are easy to change if you do change your mind.

Try out a new style: It's easy to be dramatic without committing your room to permanent change if you're clever with the soft furnishings. Would you. for example, love to transform your nice-but-dull bedroom into a romantic Victorian boudpir? Why not invest in some velvet curtains and velvet and lace cushions! Instant chic without a hefty price tag.

Mix and match: It can also be lots of fun experimenting with the soft furnishings in your home. There's no laws that say your cushions and curtains have to coordinate, so why not play around with some different textures and shades. The shabby chic craze is all about a homemade, "thrown together" look.

Make your own: It's easier than ever to find craft patterns online. This takes out the guess work of working from scratch and makes it even cheaper to spruce up a room with cushions and curtains.

Move them around: Finally, why not try switching curtains and cushions between rooms? You could be surprised at how different the same finishings look in another room.